It
was moved by Fiamingo, seconded by Falcetano and carried, that the minutes
of the Work Session Meeting of March 26th and the Regular Meeting
of March 27, 2002 be dispensed with and approved as submitted. (Copies
furnished each Council Member prior to the meeting.)

HEARING
ON THE 2002 MUNICIPAL BUDGET

Mayor
Tripodi introduced Borough Auditor Jim Cerullo who was here this evening
to speak about the proposed budget.

Councilwoman
Fiamingo said that no one is really thrilled about this budget, however,
she will let Jim Cerullo explain it.

Mr.
Cerullo said the budget as it was introduced last month calls for a 9
point increase. The Borough has submitted an application for extraordinary
aid and we will probably not hear anything until late June. He said the
pool of money allotted for the aid has been increased by

5
million dollars, so he if we do not get any aid he will be very surprised.
Mr. Cerullo explained that the spending is up approximately 3.6% and we
have a shortfall in revenue of over $450,000.

and
this accounts for such a large increase. He said it is more than we have
had and costs do go up. Mr. Cerullo added that last year we had used
the surplus to make up for not getting the extraordinary aid and it is
coming back to hurt us this year. He urged the governing body to petition
whatever legislators and contacts they may have. Mr. Cerullo said the
majority of the state will have major tax increases, the bulk coming from
the school tax levy, due to the cut in state aid. He said something is
not right with the school funding and it is causing a lot of problems.

Mayor
Tripodi asked if any Council Member had any questions.

Councilwoman
Colosimo asked how much of the surplus was used?

Mr.
Cerullo answered $1.2 million.

Councilwoman
asked how much are we planning on putting back, or regenerating?

HEARING
ON THE 2002 MUNICIPAL BUDGET (CONT._)

Mr.
Cerullo said probably about $900,000. to $1,000.000. with the bulk of
it coming from the increase in the deferred school taxes.

Councilwoman
Fiamingo asked how much the surplus was at the beginning of the year?

Mr.
Cerullo said $2.6 million, so we are using about 46%.

Councilman
David asked Mr. Cerullo what our request for aid was?

Mr.
Cerullo said $200,000. because that is what we got 2 years ago so they
felt they would have a good chance of getting that same amount.

Councilwoman
Colosimo asked how many points we were looking at and how much is one
point?

Mr.
Cerullo said 9 points and 1 point being the equivalent of $16.75, so approximately
$150.75

per
house.

There
being no further questions from the Council, Mayor Tripodi opened the
meeting to the public.

Livio
Mancino, North 24th Street, asked if we are still putting $250,000.
per year away for the Waldorf case?

Mr.
Cerullo said it is part of the debt service. When the final settlement
came in, the portion of it which wasn’t covered by the insurance proceeds
was payable over a 5-year period. He added that we have one more year
after this year.

Mr.
Mancino asked what the increase for payroll is for this year?

Mr.
Cerullo said they have budgeted 4%.

Councilwoman
Fiamingo explained that they have budgeted 4%, however, they have not
settled on any amount. They are in the middle of negotiations.

Mr.
Mancino asked if the 4% included longevity?

Councilwoman
Fiamingo explained that we cannot negotiate longevity.

Mr.
Mancino asked what the cap was?

Mr.
Cerullo said the cap rate is 2 ½% and it can go up to 5%, but there are
all kinds of exceptions, it is not a hard cap.

HEARING
ON 2002 MUNICIPAL BUDGET (CONT.)

Mr.
Mancino asked what the school increase is going to be?

Mayor
Tripodi said he believed it was $75. for question #1 which is the budget,
and the County is $68.00.

Councilwoman
Fiamingo added that she thought that question #2 would be another $50.00.

Mr.
Mancino asked if he could anticipate $350. increase for the average home.

Councilwoman
Fiamingo said that was if the budget and question #2 passes, and we do
not get the extraordinary aid.

Mr.
Mancino said that this bothers him because over the years we preached
“no tax increase” and now in one year we will be overwhelmed. He said
good business practice would be to prepare for a rainy day.

There
being no further questions, Mayor Tripodi closed the Hearing on the 2002
Municipal Budget.

Mayor
Tripodi noted that there will not be a vote on the budget until we hear
about the extraordinary aid application.

job done in removing a rotting tree and also for the day-to-day
operations of the Public Works

Department.

REPORTS

1.
Police Department Report for the month of March, 2002.

2.
Construction Department Report for the month of March, 2002.

3.
Borough Clerk’s Report for the month of March, 2002.

It
was moved by Galasso, seconded by Falcetano and carried, that the above
communications be received and filed and any money amounts indicated be
spread over the minutes.

REPORT
OF COMMITTEES

MAYOR’S
REPORT

Mayor
Tripodi announced that the Borough will be celebrating its 95th
Birthday. The Historical Society is helping to plan the events which
include a poster contest, a reading of the Kenilworth History Book written
by Fran Day, a Proclamation and a presentation of the key to the city.
This will be held at David Brearley High School on June 13th
and he will pass along more information as soon as it becomes available.

DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE

Councilwoman
Fiamingo referred to the agenda where there will be a first reading on
a bond ordinance for capital improvement projects in the budget so we
can go out to bid.

DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC WORKS

Councilwoman
Colosimo reported that the cleanup was held on March 27th and
the invoice comes to $34,094. noting that this one cleanup cost more than
all three of last year’s cleanups combined. She said she did discuss
adding one more cleanup to the two already scheduled for

2002
with the Council, and will discuss it again in the future. Superintendent
Dan Ryan reported that the parks are being worked on, the grass has been
cut, and the water has been turned on.

Councilwoman
Colosimo said there is a problem with the gas and diesel pumps and they
will be looking into the cost of repair. Councilwoman Colosimo read the
following letter into the minutes:

Dear Mr. Ryan:

I’m writing this letter to express by appreciation to your department
for the fine job they did in removing

a rotting tree from my front lawn last month.

I telephoned and spoke with Mike in the Tree Department; he inspected
the medium sized tree the same

day and contacted Mr. Astone to make a decision because the power
lines were running through the tree.

Mr. Astone visited my home within two days and agreed the tree
was rotting and needed to be removed.

Astone Tree Service did a neat job and I believe the town followed
through with the stump grinding. The

whole process was very professional.

I also want to take the opportunity to thank the Department of
Public Works and Carmela Colosimo for

the day-to-day cleaning operations the town undertakes. For example,
how quickly our lawn clippings

are removed, the continuous sweep
cleaning of both our neighborhood streets and sidewalks uptown

(it doesn’t go unnoticed!). Our Public Works Department appears
to be a smooth operation and they

make our town sparkle. Thanks again and please keep up the good
work, we appreciate it!

Sincerely,

Denise & Larry Sehnal

DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Councilman
Galasso announced that we will be awarding the towing contract to L&J
Body and Fender for the year 2002-2003 and will be passing on second reading
an ordinance that will increase off duty fees for the police department.

REPORT
OF COMMITTEES (CONT.)

DEPARTMENT
OF PLANNING, ZONING, AND ORDINANCES

Councilman
David announced that he has the Zoning Official’s report for the month
of March which shows 15 complaints, 8 approvals, 3 denials, and 2 correspondences.
He said he also

has
the Construction Official’s report and reported total receipts $22,442.
which included building department fees $12,308., smoke detector fees
$180., storage trailers $1200., elevator fees $8,045., and trust fees
$709. Councilman David announced that our Fire Inspector will be

out
for approximately 6 – 8 weeks and in his absence our Construction Official
has temporarily

hired
Mr. Dave Moss and Mr. Joseph Capola who work out of Springfield. The
Planning Board

will
be holding its monthly meeting on April 25th and they have
a full agenda.

DEPARTMENT
OF FIRE, RECREATION, LIGHTING AND ECOLOGY

Councilman
Taylor said he has received an update on the grease trap education and
information

program
which is continuing and he presented it to the governing body last night.
The Library

Board
met on Monday and they offered a sincere thank you to the Mayor in anticipation
of the

presentation
of the George Washington portrait which he received for Mayor of the Year
from the Chamber of Commerce. Councilman Taylor also noted that there
is a first reading of an ordinance on the agenda which will amend the
parking restrictions in the municipal lot near the Board of Health and
Recreation Center.

BILLS

Consolidated
Bill List appears on the following page.

CONSENT
AGENDA

Resolutions
No. 1 through No. 6 are listed under Consent Agenda and will be enacted
by one motion in the form listed below.

Council
Member Colosimo moved that all items under Consent Agenda be approved,
seconded by Council Member Falcetano. Upon roll call the vote was unanimous.

RESOLUTION
NO. 1

Be
It Hereby Resolved: That all bills be paid when properly audited and
funds are available.

RESOLUTION
NO. 2

Be
It Hereby Resolved: That the Agreement with Valley Health Medical Group
for Alcohol and Drug Testing Services be continued for a one year period.

CONSENT
AGENDA (CONT.)

RESOLUTION
NO. 3

Be
It Hereby Resolved: That L&J Body & Fender Works be awarded
a towing license for the Borough of Kenilworth for a one year period from
June 1, 2002 to May 31, 2003.

RESOLUTION
NO. 4

Be
It Hereby Resolved: That the Borough Clerk be authorized to issue Bingo
License renewals to the following:

St. Theresa’s Father’s Guild

St. Theresa’s Mother’s Guild

St. Theresa’s R.C. Church

St. Theresa’s Rosary Altar Society

All
to hold Bingo once a week for one year.

RESOLUTION
NO. 5

Resolution
appears on the following page. (Temporary Budget Appropriations)

RESOLUTION
NO. 6

Resolution
appears on the following page. (Resolution supporting S-478 and A-540
to call a

constitutional
convention)

ORDINANCES

Proposed
Ordinance No. 2002-03 was read for a second reading as follows: (Copy
appears in

Mayor
Tripodi explained that this is for off-duty police officers and their
services to vendors and allows the Borough to collect a $5.00 per hour
administrative fee.

Mayor
Tripodi opened the meeting to the public for any questions or comments
on Proposed

Ordinance
No. 2002-03.

ORDINANCES
(CONT.)

HEARING
ON PROPOSED ORDINANCE NO. 2002-03 (CONT.)

Livio
Mancino, North 24th Street, wanted to know if the administration
fee is $5.00 an hour then what does the officer get?

Councilman
Galasso said the officer would get $30.00 per hour because we bill the
client $35.00 per hour.

Mr.
Mancino asked if the $30. goes into the payroll and the officer has to
pay social security and

FICA,
etc.? He explained that the Borough has to eventually match their social
security and those deductions should come from that $30. or the Borough
pays for it.

Mayor
Tripodi referred the question to the Borough C.F.O., Dianne Marus who
was present.

Mrs.
Marus explained that there are different factors involved in the calculations,
for example, police officers hired prior to 1987 are not subject to the
Medicare or the social the security portion.

Mr.
Mancino said that you are charged on your insurance based on your payroll.
Five dollars is not going to cover, for example, if you have 250 hours
a year for the service fee. The $30. and the $5. should be recalculated
because the bottom line is that the Borough will just break even, or

not
even cover the payroll costs. Mr. Mancino said that your workman’s comp
is included in the service that was rendered, unless the person you are
providing the services for is picking up the comp. He also said that
the Borough should be named as additional insured.

There
being no further questions, Mayor Tripodi closed the meeting to the public.

Borough
Clerk Lipke brought to the Mayor’s attention the fact that Proposed Ordinance
No. 2002-03 will need to be amended as discussed at last night’s work
session where Councilman Galasso pointed out that the ordinance reads
“Administration Fee - $5.00” when it should read “$5.00 per hour”.

Councilman
Galasso made a motion to amend Ordinance No. 2002-03 to read $5.00 per
hour.

It
was seconded by Falcetano. Upon discussion, Councilman David said considering
the information we just heard, unless we know that the $5.00 per hour
will sufficiently cover all of the expenses involved, we look at it before
passing it.

Councilman
Galasso made a motion to withdraw the motion to amend Ordinance No. 2002-03.

Councilman
David made a motion to table Ordinance No. 2002-03, seconded by Councilman

Galasso
and upon roll call unanimously carried.

ORDINANCES
(CONT.)

Proposed
Ordinance No. 2002-04 was read for a first reading as follows: (Copy
attached)

ORDINANCE NO. 2002-04

A
BOND ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS IN, BY AND FOR THE BOROUGH
OF KENILWORTH, IN THE COUNTY OF UNION, NEW JERSEY, APPROPRIATING AN AGGREGATE
AMOUNT OF $437,000 THEREFOR AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF NOT EXCEEDING
$296,400 IN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF BONDS OR NOTES TO FINANCE PART
OF THE COST THEREOF

Mayor
Tripodi explained that this bond ordinance is for various improvements,
which are listed under Section 1. Second reading will be April 24th.

RESOLUTION
NO 8

Introduced
by Fiamingo who also moved its adoption.

Be
It Hereby Resolved: That Proposed Ordinance No. 2002-04, be and the
same is hereby passed on first reading and ordered published for final
hearing on April 24, 2002.

Seconded
by David and on roll call unanimously carried.

Proposed
Ordinance No. 2002-05 was read for a first reading as follows: (Copy
attached)

ORDINANCE NO. 2002-05

ORDINANCE
AMENDING CHAPTER 170 OF THE CODE OF THE BOROUGH OF KENILWORTH – RESTRICTIONS
AFTER RECONSTRUCTION OF RESURFACING OF

ROADS

Mayor
Tripodi said this amends the street opening ordinance to allow for discretionary
street openings in the 5th year after it was paved.

RESOLUTION
NO. 9

Introduced
by David who also moved its adoption.

Be
It Hereby Resolved: That Proposed Ordinance No. 2002-05, be and same
is hereby passed on first reading and ordered published for final hearing
on April 24, 2002.

Seconded
by Taylor and on roll call unanimously carried.

Proposed
Ordinance No. 2002-06 was read for a first reading as follows: (copy
attached)

ORDINANCE NO. 2002-06

ORDINANCE
AMENDING CHAPTER 190 OF THE CODE OF THE BOROUGH OF KENILWORTH – Restrictions
on Parking in Municipal Lot No. 4 (Recreation Building)

ORDINANCES
(CONT.)

PROPOSED
ORDINANCE NO. 2002-06 (CONT.)

Mayor
Tripodi explained that is to amend the parking restriction ordinance specifically
the side lot of the Recreation Bldg. and this is to allow the Board of
Health and Recreation Department

access
to those spaces in addition to further borough business. There will be
a penalty provision and enforcement to have the vehicles removed.

RESOLUTION
NO. 10

Introduced
by Taylor who also moved its adoption.

Be
It Hereby Resolved: That Proposed Ordinance No. 2002-06, be and the
same is hereby passed on first reading and ordered published for final
hearing on April 24, 2002.

Seconded
by Galasso and on roll call unanimously carried.

GENERAL
BUSINESS

None

MEETING
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Livio
Mancino, North 24th Street, said he does not need an answer
tonight, however, he would like to know if the money generated by the
Building Department and other enforcement agencies

are
able to sustain the payroll generated by those departments.

Councilman
David said the Building Department generates more than enough to offset
their payroll.

Mr.
Mancino said they just resurfaced 24th Street, however, they
did not put a new street in. He said if this was the recommendation of
the Borough Engineer, then he is not doing a good job.

Councilman
David asked Mr. Mancino if the street was stripped?

Mr.
Mancino said it was resurfaced. He said 10 years after he moved here,
they did 23rd Street

and
they laid the stone, sand, and mesh and it was done right. They recently
redid it as an overlay and he can understand why, however, he cannot understand
why they just did an overlay on 24th. While they were doing
the work, the contractors parked their machines on the lower part of 24th
and the junk fell all over the street. (Mr. Mancino asked that the records
show that he was

told
by the Borough Engineer that the lower part of 24th Street
would be done in August.)

He
said because of this Washington Street, is now splitting so he hopes the
Borough received a performance bond. Mr. Mancino said the contractors
swept the extra stone onto Washington and

the
Boulevard and they should have picked it up. Someone has to call the
bonding company and say that if they do not come back to clean it up and
do it right, then they have to pay for it.

MEETING
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (CONT.)

Mr.
Mancino said it was also a big liability when the contractors were done
in the evening, they would leave their equipment and vehicles parked all
over the unfinished street. He said it was amazing that no one was hurt
or got killed. Another thing Mr. Mancino said he saw was while the street
was being worked on and blocked off to the traffic, a car decided to go
around the cones and go down the street anyway coming up from behind the
police officer who was on duty and if someone didn’t yell, he would have
been killed. He urged the Mayor and Council to be careful.

ADJOURNMENT

There
being no further business to come before the Council, it was moved by
David, seconded by Falcetano and carried, that the meeting be adjourned
to the call of the chair.